High Wind in California, November 8 to 9, 2002

Name: High Wind in California, November 8 to 9, 2002
Start: 2002-11-08T15:55
End: 2002-11-09T21:00
Location: California

November 8 to 9, 2002 · NWS HNX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS HNX wrote it up.

In conjunction with the multiple day precipitation event from the 7th through the 9th, gusty wind continued to buffet the Kern County Mountains and Deserts. Wind was often reported with 40+MPH gusts at several different automated reporting sites. There were spikes of 74 and 91 MPH at Indian Wells Canyon at 1613 PST and 1713 PST in the early afternoon of the 9th during the event. In the Mojave area winds again were generally around 40+MPH on the 8th into the 9th with a few gusts to 60 Knots at the Inyokern Airport during the afternoon of the 9th.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Hanford, CA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 8, 3:25 PM PST, 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 8, 3:25 PM PST, 30 minutes before

INTERIOR CENTRAL CALIFORNIA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
325 PM PST FRI NOV 8 2002

UPDATED TO ADD ADVISORIES/WARNINGS

LATEST SHORTWAVE STILL INFLUENCING THE REGION ATTM AND WILL EXIT THE
REGION THIS EVENING...BUT WITH A BROAD FETCH OF SUBTROPICAL PACIFIC
MOISTURE SLAMMING INTO THE HIGHER TERRAIN...EXPECT FAVORABLE UPSLOPE
CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE MUCH OF THE NIGHT ACROSS THE EXPOSED
MOUNTAINS. ON THE VALLEY FLOOR...RAIN SHOULD TAPER OFF LATE THIS
EVENING...WITH A RELATIVE LULL PERSISTING UNTIL LATE MORNING SATURDAY.
AT THAT TIME...THE NEXT IMPULSE IS DRIVEN INTO THE AREA RIDING ON
THE HEELS OF A 160 KT H3 JET. THE SATURDAY RIPPLE LOOKS LESS
IMPRESSIVE THAN THE LATEST WAVES...BUT STILL COULD EASILY SQUEEZE
OUT QPF/S OF AN INCH NEAR YOSEMITE...TRAILING DOWN TO PERHAPS A
QUARTER OF AN INCH TOWARDS KBFL. ALL THE WHILE...EXPECT HIGHER
ELEVATIONS TO PICK UP ANOTHER COUPLE OF FEET OF SNOW AND WILL THUS
KEEP THE WINTER STORM WARNING FOR OUR HIGH SIERRA ZONES THROUGH
SATURDAY NIGHT. OF COURSE...FLOODING OF FOOTHILLS AND LOCAL URBAN
FLOODING REMAIN AN UTMOST CONCERN. ANOTHER ISSUE AT THE FOREFRONT
INVOLVES HIGH WINDS ACROSS THE KERN DESERTS/MOUNTAINS AS
PRECIPITATION BECOMES MORE SPOTTY.

THE FAUCET SHOULD FINALLY TURN OFF ACROSS THE VALLEY BY SATURDAY
EVENING...WITH PRECIPITATION GRADUALLY COMING TO AN END IN THE
MOUNTAINS BY EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. EASTERN PACIFIC RIDGING WILL THEN
TAKE OVER...LEADING TO MORE SUNSHINE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON. SOME
PATCHY FOG MAY DEVELOP EARLY MONDAY MORNING WITH THE SATURATED
BOUNDARY LAYER AND SLACKENING WINDS...BUT DO NOT EXPECT A WIDESPREAD
DENSE FOG EVENT FOR MONDAY MORNING. WITH CONSIDERABLE AFTERNOON SUN
IN THE OFFERING...EXPECT PLEASANTLY MILD FALL TEMPERATURES.

BURGER

IN THE EXTENDED...LONG RANGE MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND SHOW UPPER
LEVEL RIDGE SITUATED OVER CENTRAL CA MONDAY. NEXT SHORT WAVE TROUGH
IN THE NORTHERN BRANCH BEGINS TO PUT A DENT IN THE RIDGE TUESDAY AS
IT MOVES INTO THE PAC NW. RIDGE IS FLATTENED AS THIS SHORT WAVE
SLIDES TREKS ACROSS NORTHERN CA DURING THE DAY WED. HOWEVER...BULK
OF MOISTURE AND DYNAMICS PROGGED TO STAY NORTH OF OUR CWA...SO AS
TAIL OF THIS FRONT SPLICES THRU CENTRAL CA WED AFTN...THERE WILL BE
LITTLE MORE THAN MID CLOUDS WITH IT. MAIN EFFECTS WILL BE AN
INCREASE IN ONSHORE GRADIENTS WITH A FEW DEGREES OF SYNOPTIC COOLING
AND LOCALLY GUSTY WIND OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. UPPER LEVEL RIDGE
IS FORECAST TO REBUILD ACROSS CENTRAL CA THU AND STAY IN CONTROL
THRU FRIDAY. NIGHT AND MORNING FOG IN THE SJ VLY LIKELY TO BE THE
BIGGEST WEATHER CONCERN DURING THE PERIOD.

DURFEE

.HNX...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA...NORTH
       OF KERN COUNTY...AND ABOVE 8000 FEET...TONIGHT THROUGH
       SATURDAY NIGHT.
    ...FLOOD WARNING TONIGHT FOR THE MARIPOSA...MADERA...TULARE AND
       FRESNO COUNTY FOOTHILLS AND THE TULARE COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND
       KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS.
    ...WIND ADVISORY TONIGHT FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS...INDIAN
       WELLS VALLEY AND SOUTHEASTERN KERN COUNTY DESERT.

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 8, 5:20 AM PST, 10 hours 35 minutes before

CAZ089>099-091330-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
520 AM PST FRI NOV 8 2002

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
INTERIOR.

.DAY ONE...

A PACIFIC STORM WILL CONTINUE ACROSS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA TODAY...
BRINGING WIDESPREAD RAIN TO THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA INTERIOR AND
HEAVY SNOW OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SIERRA.

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THE PACIFIC STORM WILL CONTINUE IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA SATURDAY...
WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR WIDESPREAD RAIN...WITH HEAVY SNOW OVER THE
HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SIERRA. THE STORM IS WILL BRING GUSTY
WINDS TO THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS SATURDAY. IMPROVING CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE SATURDAY. THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD
HAZARDOUS WEATHER FOR SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY IS LOW.

PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE SOUTHERN
SIERRA NEVADA ABOVE 8000 FEET...NORTH OF KERN COUNTY...TODAY AND
SATURDAY...SFOWSWHNX...OR WMO I.D. WWUS46 KHNX.

PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST FLOOD STATEMENT FOR THE MANTER AND MCNALLY
BURN AREAS OF TULARE COUNTY...SFOFLSHNX...OR WMO I.D. WGUS86 KHNX.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS TO THEIR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

BINGHAM

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 8, 10:25 AM PST, 5 hours 30 minutes before

CAZ089>099-090000-

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
1025 AM PST FRI NOV 8 2002

TIME(PST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0900 AM     WISHON DAM                  CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          5.74 STORM TOTAL

0900 AM     MARIPOSA GROVE              CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    MARIPOSA                        5.76 STORM TOTAL

0900 AM     SHAVER LAKE                 CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          4.80 STORM TOTAL

0900 AM     BASS LAKE                   CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          5.06 STORM TOTAL

0700 AM     LODGEPOLE                   CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          3.25 STORM TOTAL

0800 AM     PASCOES 9150               CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    TULARE                          5.90 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     JOHNSONDALE                 CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    TULARE                          7.36 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     DINKEY CREEK                CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          6.08 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     CHOWCHILLA                  CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    MERCED                          2.99 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     COLLINS CORNER 6NE FAT      CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          3.15 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     MENDOTA                     CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          2.21 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     REEDLEY                     CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          2.99 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     VOLCANIC KNOB 10100        CA  HEAVY SNOW
11/08/02    FRESNO                          24 HOUR TOTAL OF 46

1000 AM     UPPER BURNT CORRAL 9775    CA  HEAVY SNOW
11/08/02    FRESNO                          24 HOUR TOTAL OF 46

1000 AM     CHAGOOPA PLATEAU 10300     CA  HEAVY SNOW
11/08/02    TULARE                          24 HOUR TOTAL OF 40

1000 AM     MITCHELL MEADOW  10375     CA  HEAVY SNOW
11/08/02    TULARE                          24 HOUR TOTAL OF 38

DUDLEY

Local storm report, Nov 8, 3:29 PM PST, 26 minutes before

CAZ089>099-090700-

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...UPDATED REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HANFORD CA
329 PM PST FRI NOV 8 2002

TIME(PST)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0300 PM     WISHON DAM                  CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          8.16 STORM TOTAL

0300 PM     MARIPOSA GROVE              CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    MARIPOSA                        8.78 STORM TOTAL

0300 PM     SHAVER LAKE                 CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          6.49 STORM TOTAL

0300 PM     BASS LAKE                   CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          6.48 STORM TOTAL

0700 AM     LODGEPOLE                   CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          3.25 STORM TOTAL

0800 AM     PASCOES 9150               CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    TULARE                          5.90 STORM TOTAL

0300 PM     JOHNSONDALE                 CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    TULARE                          10.36 STORM TOTAL

0300 PM     DINKEY CREEK                CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          8.42 STORM TOTAL

0300 PM     PARK RIDGE LOOKOUT          CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO (KINGS CANYON NP)        7.05 STORM TOTAL

0300 PM     MARIPOSA                    CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    MARIPOSA                        4.87 STORM TOTAL

0300 PM     PINEHURST                   CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          5.56 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     CHOWCHILLA                  CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    MERCED                          2.99 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     COLLINS CORNER 6NE FAT      CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          3.15 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     MENDOTA                     CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          2.21 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     REEDLEY                     CA  HEAVY RAIN
11/08/02    FRESNO                          2.99 STORM TOTAL

1000 AM     VOLCANIC KNOB 10100        CA  HEAVY SNOW
11/08/02    FRESNO                          24 HOUR TOTAL OF 46

0300 PM     UPPER BURNT CORRAL 9775    CA  HEAVY SNOW
11/08/02    FRESNO                          24 HOUR TOTAL OF 60

0300 PM     CHAGOOPA PLATEAU 10300     CA  HEAVY SNOW
11/08/02    TULARE                          24 HOUR TOTAL OF 52

1000 AM     MITCHELL MEADOW  10375     CA  HEAVY SNOW
11/08/02    TULARE                          24 HOUR TOTAL OF 38

DUDLEY

Event by event

3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Se Kern Cty Desert

When: November 8, 3:55 PM PST to November 9, 9:00 PM PST
Where: Se Kern Cty Desert forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Kern Cty Mtns

When: November 8, 3:56 PM PST to November 9, 9:00 PM PST
Where: Kern Cty Mtns forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

High Wind, Indian Wells Vly

When: November 9, 3:16 PM PST to 9:00 PM PST
Where: Indian Wells Vly forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in California, November 2002

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5319345, 5319343, 5319344.